Neck injury still on Dawkins' mind

PHILADELPHIA | Brian Dawkins plays free safety with a fearless mindset, but on Wednesday admitted he is still not ready to do that after suffering a neck stinger 1 1/2 weeks earlier in the Eagles' loss to the Redskins on Monday Night Football.

The stinger led to spasms in Dawkins' trapezoid, and he missed Sunday's victory over Detroit. He and coach Andy Reid say he is "moving in the right direction," but...

"When I do get in, I want to play. I don’t want to think about anything when I play," Dawkins said before watching his teammates practice Wednesday in preparation for Sunday night's game at the New York Giants. "When you are thinking about something, you’re going to be a step behind, or something else could happen. When I get in there, I want to be able to concentrate on the opponent, the play formation, down and distance, and trying to wreak havoc

.”

** Now we know: Brian Westbrook was more seriously injured than outsiders knew in 2004.

Westbrook missed one game early that season because of what the Eagles described as "a cracked rib and chest contusion."

But in talking about his current abdominal strain that is in the rib area, Westbrook let this slip today: “That one [in 2004], I had broken my rib, so it was different. I broke my rib and punctured my lung at that point..."

** With all the attention on the passing game, it kind of slipped by a lot of us that the Eagles had four rushing TDs in Sunday's game.

** We'll probably re-post this again later in the week, but there are significant changes in the Meadowlands parking situation due to construction of the new stadium there, so fans should hit the following link to the Giants' Web site for information before heading to East Rutherford for the first time this year: http://www.giants.com/gameday/07GiantsStadiumParkingAnnouncement.asp

Early diagnosis is a major goal. Since they are able to detect disease onset sooner, a patient may still make crucial decisions regarding care and more while their faculties are still more or less intact.

People often confuse coma as being necessary for brain injury to occur. This is far from the facts or truth. However coma usually confirms that brain injury has, in all probability, robbed the individual of cognition or motor function.

Early recognition of the extent of damage is vital to survival and to immediate appropriate care. Indeed, the risk of dying increases tenfold when there's more than a four-hour delay of needed brain surgery. Some studies indicate any delay is harmful, for injured neuron cells in the patient's brain are easily killed by lack of oxygen, and the brain cannot long endure shifting fluid or tissue.